Your Hampshire & Dorset Wedding - Jan/Feb 2018 (Issue 72)

’tis the season Romantic settings for a magical winter wedding Careys Manor Hotel, Brockenhurst 01590 624 467 | careysmanor.com Set within the ancient trees of the New Forest, this stunning hotel is sure to impress as your guests arrive via the long gravel driveway to catch their first glimpse of the red-brick 18 th -century Victorian manor house. With 3AA-Rosette cuisine, quintessential English gardens and a range of suites and spaces for weddings inside or out, be prepared for plenty of stop-stare moments. The flexible venue caters for all types of weddings all year round. Cosy and inviting for a traditional celebration in the house, there’s outdoor spaces too, including a 10-acre private field for glamping or a festival-style big day. Whether you’re looking for an intimate ceremony with just your closest family and friends or a lavish party, there’s something to suit a wide range of tastes. There are three licensed ceremony rooms including the elegant Cedar Suite, which can host 100 loved ones to watch you tie the knot. With its own entrance and bar, you can celebrate afterwards with a wedding breakfast for up to 80 loved ones and an evening reception for 150, there’s also an adjoining quiet room so guests can chill out during the party. The Lounge in the original manor part of the hotel, is a warm and relaxing haven with room for up to 60 seated ceremony guests. Full of traditional character with a high wood-panelled ceiling, it features exposed beams and an impressive inglenook fireplace; great for a winter wedding. We love... the award-winning Thai spa on site, ideal for pre- or post-wedding pampering.  The Montagu Arms, Beaulieu 01590 612 324 | montaguarmshotel.co.uk If you’re on the hunt for a magical setting for your big day, this classic English country house hotel is hard to beat, whatever the time of year. Set in the heart of the historic New Forest village of Beaulieu, the striking Grade II listed building provides a picture-postcard backdrop for weddings large or small. With an award-winning and recently upgraded restaurant overlooking the terraced garden, it oozes charm and character. Think crackling open fires, sink-into sofas and upholstered club chairs in the cosy drawing room, 24 en-suite bedrooms including two brand new duplex suites, all individually styled; perfect for a weekend-long celebration. Intimate weddings for up to 30 guests are something of a speciality; with a red-carpet welcome and ceremony in the luxurious Oakwood Room followed by a delicious wedding breakfast, or you can say ‘I do’ in the Paris Room overlooking the picturesque village, joined by up to 10 of your nearest and dearest. For larger affairs, the venue is licensed for up to 100 ceremony guests and can cater for 150 for the reception. There’s plenty of space inside and out including an open porch at the front and a traditional English garden with a pond and fountain, a terrace and organic kitchen garden surrounded by mature trees and a discreet, spacious car park at the back. Foodie heaven, you can take over the award-winning 3AA-Rosette restaurant where chef and Roux scholar Matthew Tomkinson will create a bespoke menu tailored to your needs. We love... that the free-roaming New Forest ponies and donkeys frequently wander past the hotel – perfect for quirky wedding photos! lemontree-photography.co.uk asrphoto.co.uk WINTER WONDERLAND 29